How to Get Rid of the Wiggy Look!
Wig Shown Above: Scala Wig by Ellen Wille in color Champagne Rooted
No matter what you try, do you still think your wig looks fake? This is most often a new wig wearer’s affliction. When we look in the mirror we focus in on “all that hair” and assume it looks fake. We are so used to seeing our fine, thin hair, that no wig looks real. The good news is that as you learn to work with your wig, pick the best wigs for you—you will begin to see things differently. You will get used to looking at yourself with more “hair” and be able to focus more on style and color, the same as if it was your biological hair.
Sometimes at the beginning of our wig journey, if we first try a wig with a lot of permatease—it can be a huge shock. Some styles, brands, do seem to pack a lot more “hair” into their wigs than anyone would ever have naturally. This is where a bit of skill comes into play, and trial and error—and time. For most of us, especially if losing our hair was a drawn-out process where we got used to thinning hair, any wig might look like too much hair at first, and that takes a while to get used to for most people.
I don’t claim to have any hairstyling skill, so I depend on my hairdresser to do a bit of thinning and shaping on some styles. Some think that permatease is the problem, and that it makes you look as if you have a ton of hair on top. But some permatease does work for some styles and gives the wig lasting shape to support the style. Picking the right style for your facial features, and right color, will be as important as your decision about permatease.
Also, we need to remember we can’t expect a cheap wig to look as good as one with all the bells and whistles. We do get what we pay for in more ways than one. A good quality and well-made wig can make all the difference in how real they look and how long they last. We have all come to expect that a human hair wig will look more realistic. We know that a lace front and mono top can give our wigs a more realistic look, depending on the style. We know that synthetic, non-heat friendly wigs can be helped if we tamp down that shine and choose rooted colors. We know to look for blended shades of color because flat colors scream fake. Fortunately, wig construction has gotten increasingly better over the years.
We learn that it’s difficult to pull any wig from a box, put it on our head, and have it look very realistic. Though some styles are almost just that—great, right out of the box. But the majority of the time we need to customize the wig for us, and that can include seeking professional help like a hair stylist to maybe trim, thin, cut bangs if needed, and in general, shape it up to suit our face—if needed. I have had to do that with only two longer wigs.
Some other issues in wig wearing that sometimes get overlooked or thought about too late are: wig fit (cap size), wig placement (does it sit at the natural hairline?) and wig security. Did you prep your bio hair if needed and find a method of securing the wig that is comfortable for you? Trial and error will help with this.
In the end, we get back what we put into our wigs. They are an investment, so it’s worth learning all we can to make them look great and last a long time.
Sometimes it is hard for us to be objective as we stand in front of the mirror. That’s where a professional stylist comes in. Your mom, best friend, partner, etc., might not be the best person/people to ask when it comes to picking a wig color and style—for obvious reasons. A stylist has no real emotional investment, and it’s her or his business to do a good job for their clients. They do this for a living.
Until next time, wishing you all a happy holiday season. Break out that new wig and show off a little.
-VickieLynn
